Garoppolo heaps praise on WRs Taylor, Goodwin

Garoppolo heaps praise on WRs Taylor, Goodwin

Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start with the 49ers was highlighted by the on-field rapport he demonstrated with receivers Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor.

Garoppolo targeted Goodwin eight times and connected each time for a total of 99 yards. On passes intended for Taylor, a slot receiver, Garoppolo was 6-for-6 for 92 yards, including five successful third-down conversions.

“That’s what you look forward to, especially on third down when guys who can separate versus man-to-man and when they catch it they turn it up the field and move the chains,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s been an important role throughout the league, something that we’ve always had on our team.

“You can win with size or speed on the outside. On the inside, I think you have to win with quickness, whether it’s a slot receiver, whether it’s a tight end, whether it’s a running back. Those are usually the three areas you get those types of routes from.”

Garoppolo found Taylor the most-crucial time in the game, finding him across the middle for a 33-yard gain on a third-and-9 play to lead up to the two-minute warning. The play helped set up Robbie Gould for the game-winning field goal with :04 remaining.

“I think Trent’s a very talented player,” Garoppolo said. “Very young. He’s still learning things. But having guys in New England who are very similar to him, I think it’s going to help us acclimate to one another. Him acclimate to me and me do the same to him. He has a savviness for the game that’s rare in a young guy like that.”

Taylor, a fifth-round draft pick from Louisiana Tech, has 32 receptions for 331 yards on the season. Goodwin was signed as a free agent after four pedestrian seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He has already put together his best NFL season with 35 catches for a team-leading 677 yards.

“He scares people with his speed. No doubt about it. The guy’s a legit,” Garoppolo said of Goodwin. “I don’t know what his hundred (time) is but it’s fast. It takes the top off defenses and makes them think about that. It allows him to run some different types of routes. But he’s an all-around good receiver for us.”

Joe Staley looks forward to giving Reuben Foster a hug

Joe Staley looks forward to giving Reuben Foster a hug

Linebacker Reuben Foster, cleared of charges that could have ended his time with the 49ers after one season, is scheduled to be back at work at the team’s Santa Clara practice facility on Thursday.

Foster has not taken part in the 49ers’ offseason program, which opened on April 16. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed two felony domestic violence charges against Foster on April 12 – charges the 49ers labeled as “disturbing.”

Judge Nona L. Klippen announced on Wednesday she found no merit in the accusations. During testimony last week, the woman who initially made the claims said she lied about Foster’s actions during the alleged incident on Feb. 11 in Los Gatos for her own financial gain and to ruin Foster’s career. She recanted her statements to police two days later, but the DA's office pressed forward with the charges.

The felony domestic violence charges against Foster were dropped, and a felony charge of possession of an assault weapon was reduced to a misdemeanor on Wednesday.

Tackle Joe Staley, the longest-tenured 49ers player, said he has seen Foster this offseason and looks forward to one of the team’s top young players rejoining his teammates.

“Just real excited about that, the news,” Staley said Wednesday night at the 49ers' State of the Franchise event in San Jose. “Obviously, that’s real positive. So (I’m) excited to see him come back whenever he comes back to the building, and give him a hug and move forward.”

Reference to Foster's victory in court from a team employee was greeted with enthusiastic cheers among many of the approximate 1,100 attendees at the event.

49ers unveil 1994 throwback uniforms to be worn for one game

49ers unveil 1994 throwback uniforms to be worn for one game

SANTA CLARA – The San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday unveiled new alternate uniforms at the second annual State of the Franchise event at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose. Inspired by fan feedback, the 49ers will wear their much-heralded throwback uniforms from the 1994 Super Bowl season for one home game, yet to be determined, during the 2018 season.

The 49ers revealed their sleek, “old” look by welcoming five current players onto the stage—Joe Staley, Richard Sherman, DeForest Buckner, Robbie Gould, and Kyle Juszczyk—along with a Hall of Famer who helped make the style so popular – Jerry Rice.

The uniform features white jerseys and pants, the iconic drop shadow number, three stripe sleeve, black and red pant stripes, and a throwback oval decal on the side of helmet and throwback wordmark on front bumper of helmet.

The San Francisco 49ers Nike Vapor Untouchable uniform features the latest Nike Football uniform framework with minimal seams and fewer panels than traditional builds. The modern design helps improve stretch, mobility, range of motion and durability—insights Nike took directly from its athletes—creating a shrink-wrap fit, resulting in fewer grab points for the opposing team.

The 1994 throwbacks will be the team’s alternate uniform for the 2018 season, replacing the team’s black-on-black uniforms worn since the 2015 season. Those uniforms will remain available for the team to wear in the future.

“We loved the opportunity to marry the history and heritage of the 49ers franchise with the modern innovation of our latest football chassis, the Nike Vapor Untouchable uniform,” said Nike Art Director of NFL Uniforms Tom Andrich. “It was a way to honor the past while representing the future.”